What’s New in Bathrooms for 2016

Last month, we talked about what’s new in kitchens for 2016, so it seemed only fitting to follow it up with what to expect in bathrooms this year.

Here’s the cream of the crop:

Trough sinks. Trough sinks are nothing new. You’ve likely seen them in restaurant bathrooms for a number of years, but they’re now making their way into today’s homes. About the size of a double sink, models come in a variety of contemporary materials, like concrete, porcelain, ceramic, and metal (to name only a few). And because of their size, you can always install double faucets to give your bathroom an even more modern feel.

Freestanding tubs. Homeowners are now abandoning built-in tubs for freestanding ones, which are not only perfect to soak in but come with an extremely contemporary feel. Plus, they offer a great deal more flexibility in bathroom design. No longer do you need to install them up against a corner, so let your imagination run wild. The only real restriction you’ll run into is plumbing, but that too can be fitted to the design.

Open shelving. It was only time that we’d start to see open shelving in bathrooms, and 2016 seems to be the year. Like kitchen cupboards, vanities and cabinets are now being designed to feature open shelves. Though sleek and stylish, careful consideration must be made when going this route. You must first think about what you store in your current vanities or cabinets before pulling the trigger on this one.

Square shaped fixtures. Over the years, we’ve seen a few angular-shaped shower heads, faucets, and other fixtures, but the trend has finally caught on. Walk into almost any home improvement store, and you’ll likely find your pick of designs. If you’re at all concerned about going square with your fixtures, rest assured that the shape looks great in most bathroom styles. I’m talking modern to traditional.

Subway tiles. You’ve seen subway tiles used in kitchens for some time now, with a few homeowners installing them in their bathrooms. These durable and water resistant tiles are now a must for 2016. However, they’re being paired with modern wall tiles in floral designs, creative shapes, and bright colors.

Heated floors. Homeowners have been installing heated floors in their bathrooms for a number of years. So, it should come as no surprise that the trend continues into 2016, and for good reason. Bathroom floors are just plain cold. Even after a hot shower, that floor can be pretty chilly, especially during Minnesota winters. But the heat doesn’t just keep your toes toasty. It also has a way of cutting down on moisture and humidity.

Neutral color palettes. If you read last months post, you know one of the biggest trends in kitchens for 2016 is neutral color palettes. Well, the same goes for bathrooms. On the top of this list is white, and we’re talking for tubs, toilets, sinks, and tile. White works in almost any style of bathroom, and you can easily bring in an accent color to round out the room. In second place, you can find gray. The color can be either cool or warm, as it has a tendency of taking on other colors as its undertone. And like white, it works with almost any style of bathroom, and you can bring in an accent color to really make the room your own. In fact, many homeowners are now using both white and gray in their bathrooms for a more modern feel.

Digital features. Kitchens aren’t the only rooms going digital. You now have a variety of choices for digital appliances in your bathrooms. For those of you who don’t want to miss a minute of the game, you can install a medicine cabinet with an 8-inch widescreen LCD TV. You can also find high-tech toilets, which allow you to control their temperature and water pressure; touch-less faucets, which use sensors to power on and off; and digital showers, which allow you to program your preferred settings via remote control.

That’s pretty much the top trends in bathrooms for 2016. Not every trend will necessarily work for every bathroom or budget, but it’s always worth looking into if you’re deciding to remodel your bathroom.

About Mike Otto

Comments

I have to admit that I sometimes wish that I had a TV in my bathroom so that I could relax in the tub and watch after a long day. However, I think it is still a little over the top. I do kind of like the idea of trough sinks though. It is something I would have to think about for a bit, but just having one sink instead of two would be kind of nice. As long as the faucet is sized right. It always baffles me when I go to a bathroom and there is a nice big sink and a tiny faucet that forces me to brush my hands against the sink as I wash them. If you have a big sink, get a reasonably sized faucet.